Joel Bender To Make First Triple A Start For The Louisville Bats In Toledo

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Joel Bender is replacing Michael Lorenzen in making his first Triple A start in Toledo for the Louisville Bats.

The 24-year Oak Hills High School graduate gets the ball because Lorenzen has been called up to the Reds to start against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

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It will be Bender's first start of the season at any level. Bender has been at three levels this season. He began the season at High A Daytona, made one appearance at Louisville, and pitched at Pensacola before being promoted to Louisville last week.  Bender made one appearance in relief for Louisville in his earlier visit, pitching 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn a win.

Bender is finishing a successful August. He allowed two runs in 14 innings for Pensacola in seven appearances this month for a 1.29 ERA.

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Since being promoted to Louisville on August 26, Bender made one appearance on Friday, allowing a run in two innings. He starts tonight against the Toledo Mud Hens with a 1.93 ERA in his brief Triple A career.


Bender is a 2010 graduate of Oak Hills who was chosen by the Reds in the 27th round.

Bender joins Brandon Finnegan, Tony Cingrani and David Holmberg as left-handers on the Louisville roster and the only lefty in the bullpen.

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The Reds have just one available left-hander right now with Manny Parra on the disabled list and that is closer Aroldis Chapman.  Bender is not on the Reds' 40-man roster.